2024/2025 Communication Skills Programme - Spring Update
As we enter the final third of the skills competition season (or academic year as we normally call it!) it is time for an update on the fantastic performances by our law students in communication skills competitions.
In January, Amelia Triaca (3rd year) and Keara-Lynn Douglas (2nd year-Trent) participated in the Inner Temple Inter-Varsity Moot in London- against 15 teams from across the UK they argued both sides of a complicated contract law moot over 6 rounds before eventually winning- a fantastic achievement as they succeeded the university of Oxford as winners, beating Durham, York, Nottingham, LMU, and Sheffield along the way. This was a fantastic performance with Amelia and Keara-Lynn overcoming challenges along the way to battle through with a superb result.
In late March, two of our teams qualified for the National Negotiations Competition, organised by CEDR- the second time in 3 years both Swansea teams have progressed to Nationals. LLM in Legal Practice student Samuel Berkeley and Maggie Jessop (third year) went one step further to win the whole competition- the first time we have done this. They will represent Wales in the Internationals in July. Melissa James and Emily Law (both second years) performed fantastically on their competition debut and finished ninth. They were also the third strongest team in the county comprised only of undergraduates- many of the teams at the Nationals were studying at Masters programme level.
On the same weekend, two teams competed in the Wales Mooting Competition, hosted in Cardiff. Taylor-May Price (second year) and Tegan Bennett (third year) reached the semi-finals before losing to the other Cardiff team, Annabelle Shephard and Lucy Palmer (both 3rd years) who went on to the final, being narrowly beaten by Cardiff in a split decision. Particular congratulations to Taylor-May for stepping in at the last minute as a reserve after illness.
In January, Nour Riad (second year transfer student) took part in and won the Mediate Gur Virtual Client Counselling Competition- again the first time that Swansea has won this competition.
For the first time this year a team of ours progressed to the knockout stages of the Southampton National Moot. Taylor-May Price (second year) and Colm Yethon (second year- Trent) did brilliantly to go even further, overcoming the London School of Economics before being pipped in the semis by the eventual winner Leeds.
Finally, in early March the law school hosted the National Finals of the England and Wales Client Interviewing Competition, an event that saw twelve law schools come to compete for the National titles. The event drew in members of the local legal community as well as a range of fantastic students and was exceptionally well received. Thank you to everyone who contributed.
During this period, students also competed in the York Negotiation Competition, the Transatlantic Negotiation Competition, the Anglo-Welsh Client Interviewing Invitational, and the YCM Mediation Competition, all gaining significant experience and representing the Law School with honour.
There are still plenty of competitions to go this year and it is anticipated that Swansea will send teams to between 25 and 30 competitions, with 120 slots being available for students across all years of the school. We have also integrated the programme into the legal community, running eight workshops/talks from firms and Chambers, and utilising graduates to coach current teams including Hailey Doyle, Alexandra Stewart, Aidan Reesor, Hadley Middleton, Bradley Selleck. A huge thank you to everyone who has helped out.
Skills development and opportunities to participate in competitions that enhance these skills are a central part of Swansea Law School- do contact Dr Matthew Parry (m.j.parry@swansea.ac.uk) with any questions.